New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-17
PLENTY OF WORK FOR THEM.
THE COMMISSION BUSY AT WASHINGTON


PETITIONS FOR RELIEF FROM ROADS THAT HAVE
WATER ROUTE COMPETITION.
WASHINGTON, April 16.-Hulmes Cummins, gen.
srsl counsel for the Louisville, New-Orieans and
Texas Railroad Company, addressed the Interstate
Commission to-day in support OF petition nled
by that company. He described the line OF the road
and said it touched the Mississippi at both term ana
at several intermediate points bat lay at an average OF
twenty-five miles from the river along most OF Its
route. 1t thus came into direct competition Win
water lines at several points and it became necessary
70 give lower rates to retain the business lie askeu
the relief described in the petition, namely the priv
lege of meeting the rates Of water lines at compeupg
points Toe Northern connecting lines from Kansas
City and st. Louis to Memphis held differently, beiev
ing it illegal to make lower raIes tor long than snort
hauls under any circumstances unless expressly
authorized by the commission Owing this divergence
OF opinion through traffic suspended. This
was additional tor prompt decision OF the
point by the commission.
As he was about to conclude his remarks his atten.
ton was called to complaint from Port Gibson, La,
charging his road with unjust discrimination against
forth that the rate upon cotton from Port Gibson
longer haul from vicksburg only 75 cents was
charged The people, it said had expected lower rates
az an effect of the Interstate Commerce law. One
thousand bales were now awaiting shipment
MIR. Cummins said he would plead guilty to every
thing charged. This Exactly what his road Was
dong and what ii asked leave to continue to do
Howard Morris, attorney, and William s. Millen,
general manager of the Wisconsin Central lines pre-
scented petition and brief IN Its support asking that
the operation OF the long and short haul clause be
suspended in so tar as 1t prevented them from accept
ing traffic at rates. fixed by water lines and 6v moro
direct rail ues between their various terminal points.
printed petition has been received by the commis-
sion from the Iowa Barb Steel Wire Company OF Mar
that %
i,on its receipts and shipments; that is tho through
rate from Chicago to the Missouri River being twenty
five cents the company has paid 10 cents tor bringing
its RAN material from Chicago to Marshalltown and
10 cents for transporting its finished product from
Marshaltown to the missouri uneef ms Srrans %
100000 year. The railroad company fearing the
penalties OF the law has now suspended the arrange
mert and has made rates from Chicago to Marshall
town, and from Marshatown to the places OF consgn-
ment of the coWpanys goods which are enormously
higher Than the from Chicago to such places OF
consignment As result of this action the petitioner
either ship at great financial loss or shut down
its factories and discharge it's employees The system
of making equazed rates has been customary in the
Northwest aud the petitioners is representa- as
similar to that of hundreds Of other establishments
The petitioner therefore asks that the 81 stem De sane
toned the operation OF the law be suspended until
such time as the subject can be investigated.
A Western firm of lawyers OF whom the
Interstate Commerce Commissioners have never
before heard. have asked permission to make use OF
the Commissioners names as "references.~
Pennsylvania man asks to be informed II that State
tax him for representing New England manuisct
uripg company By sample only" He complains that
the State is trying work so-called mercantile tax
on any one who has Office for headquarters to re-
ceive letters and samples and write letters" Cali
fornian complains that he cannot send retrt to
Los Angeles under the present condition OF things and
asks reief The.e are samples of hundreds OF letters
upon irrelevant matters received by the Commission
every day.
The Commission has promised to hear next Wednes-
day the representatives Of the Boston interests who
seek authority for the rrpsds TO make rates from the
West to that city to meet those mace by roads wlose
termin are at New York.
No day has been assigned for hearing the representa-
tlyes of California interests seeking reliet Tor the
transcontnenta roads from the operations OF the long
.Np< haul I'M g
day next week.
Commissioner SchOonmaker called upon Controller
Durham to-day to ascertain what course the Depart
would take in regard to vouchers issued by the
commissioners. Mr.. Schoonmaker was In some doubt
to whether they would be allowed to draw money
in advance for the OF the proposed Southern
trip OF board. The Controller said that while he
not prepared to give Official decision, he was OF
the opinion that the board had properly appointed
discussing officer whose bond would cover the 100000
provided by Congress for the commission they could
draw the whole amount whenever they pleased but
in the absence of disbursing officer the money
could not paid unt properly attested vouchers had
been approved by the Controller Mr.. schOonmaker
said that secretary for the commission would De
appointed in z few days.